Vaccine-container.



G. H. 8: A. G. SHERMAN.

VACCINE CONTAINER.

APPLICATION FILED nus, 1912.

1,1 1 5,597. Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

Alturnrgu THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTU-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D. C.

To all whom it may concern:

n vrrnn srnrns PATENT oFFIoE.

,en oiaenrr. SHERMAN am) ARTHUR. e. SHERMAN, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

vaccine-communism Be it knownthat we, GEORGE H; SHER- MAN and ARTHUR G. SHERMAN, citizens. of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Vaccine-Containers; and we do declare the-following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawlngs, and to the characters of ref erence marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to vaccine containers, and consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide a container in which vaccines may be retained in bulk, and from which any desired quantity may be withdrawn by the introduction of the needle of a hypodermic syringe, provision being made for excluding atmospheric air. from the vaccine in the container and for preventing the needle of the syringe carrying bacteria or infectious matter into the container during the operations of extracting the contents therefrom.

The above object is attained by thedevice illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l .is a sectional View through a container embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the exterior stopper removed and the needle of a hypodermic syringe introduced through the inner stopper to extract a quantity of the contents. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the neck of the container above the inner stopper with the absorbent material omitted, as on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4- is a plan view of the inner compressible stopper. Fig. 5 is a sectional view ofa modified form of our invention. Fig. 6 is a transverse section as on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings by the characters of references marked thereon, 1 designates a container, prefe'rablyof glass, having at its upper end a neck 2. At the juncture of theneck with the body of the container or bottle is arranged a diametrical shoulder 3. Within the neck of the bottle is a soft rubber stopper 4 which is slightly compressed therein and is supported by the Specification. of Letters Patent.

shoulder 8L Said stopper has a concavity 5 in its upper face adapted to contain a quantity of absorbent material 6, preferably lambs wool- This absorbent material is saturated with a sterilizing solution. The mouth of the container is closed by an ordinary'stopper 7 which enters the neck 2 above said absorbent material, as shown in Fig. 1.

The outer stopper 7 keeps the absorbent material clean and in place, vents-the evaporation of the sterilizing solution therein. When it is desired to Withdraw a quantity of the vaccine from the container, the outer stopper is removed and the needle 9 of a hypodermic' syringe 10 is introduced into said vaccine through the central portion of the stopper 4 and through said absorbent material lying in the central concavity in said stopper, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The sterilizing solution in the absorbent material prevents the needle carrying bacteria into the container, while the compressible stopper 4 of soft rubber automatically effects a closure of the aperture therethrough made by the nedle when the needle is withdrawn, thus keeping the container at all times hermetically sealed and preventing possible contamination of its contents through the entrance of atmospheric air thereinto.

To hold the compressible inner stopper in place a small head 11 is formed on the inner wall. of the neck of the container, below which said stopper is forced when placed in position in said neck.

To obviate the use of the shoulder 3 in the neck of the container, and the bead. 11, we may use an inner stopper 4: of the character shown in Figs. 5 and 6 in which there is embedded concentrically a, non-elastic ring 12 of a diameter to prevent the stopper being pushed through the neck into the container because of the resistance which will be afforded by the comparatively high degree of compression to which the stopper will be subjected between said ring and the neck of the container, the friction thus created between the stopper 4 and the neck of the container being suiiicientto also pre- Patented Nov. 3, 1914. Application filed May 6,'191'2. Serial No 695,341.

vent the cork working out of said neck.

Except for the non-elastic ring 12 embedded in the stopper, it will in other respects be similar to the stopper shown in the other views. The concavity 5 in the center of the compressible stopper 4 not only affords a re ceptacle for the absorbent material, but also reduces in thickness said stopper at the center, making possible the introduction of the needle 9 therethrough Without undue resistance, at the same time enabling the maintenance of sufficient contracting force to afford a perfectly self-sealed container, notwithstanding said needle may be many times introduced through said stopper before all of the contents of the container is removed. 1

Having thus fully set forth our invention, What We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a container for Vaccines having a tubular neck thereon, a closure for the neck of said container consisting of a stopper having a reduced central portion, a compressible peripheral portion and a non-compressible reinforcement embedded concentrically therein intermediate said reduced body portion and said peripheral portion, said stopper adapted to be firmly seated in said neck, whereby the radial compression resulting from peripheral contact therewith Will be resisted by said reinforcement and the normal density of the central portion of said stopper Will not be materially increased.

2. In a container for vaccine having a tubular neck thereon, a closure therefor consisting of a compressible stopper having a relatively thin central body portion and a thickened marginal peripheral portion, a

non-compressible ring embedded in said stopper concentric with and adjacent the periphery thereof, whereby the radial compression of said stopper is limited by the diameter of said ring and the reduced central portion of said stopper remains noncompressed.

In'testimony whereof We sign this specification in the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE H. SHERMAN. ARTHUR Gr. SHERMAN. lVitnesses J. OTTO BAENZIGER, M. E. BROESAMLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of IPatents,

Washington, D. G. 

